Parr Hoping To Ride Cluster And Destiny’s Kiss On Saturday

Rising jockey Joshua Parr is hoping that he will be able to partner both Destiny’s Kiss in the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill Gardens and Cluster in a maiden at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Joshua Parr scored his first race win on Destiny's Kiss in the Stayers Cup just over a fortnight ago. Photo by: Steve Hart

Parr has formed a strong association with Destiny’s Kiss in the past month, steering the Power Of Destiny gelding to victory in the Stayers Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on June 7, but is willing to give up the ride on the likely Winter Cup favourite to partner talented maiden Cluster in a maiden plate over 1200 metres at Kembla Grange.

Racing New South Wales officials will be doing their best to give Parr the opportunity to ride both Destiny’s Kiss and Cluster on Saturday, but the rising hoop told Sky Racing HQ that his priority is to partner Cluster in his first race start since the 2013 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

“His form reads for itself and it is not bad for a maiden plate at Kembla Grange on a Saturday,” Parr said.

“I am risking a ride in a Listed race and it will probably start as favourite, Destiny’s Kiss, but I am hoping that it works out ok for us and I am able to do both.

“Everybody is working on my side, which is nice to see, and I really want it to work out, but I am very keen on getting down to Kembla to ride Cluster first-up.”

Cluster was placed at Group level during his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, finishing second in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 17 and the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 27, but was unable to breakthrough for a maiden race win.

The Fastnet Rock colt recently joined the Team Snowden stable and has impressed Parr with his trackwork as well as his comfortable barrier trial victory over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on June 10.

“He trialed under a very nice grip and he wasn’t asked to do too much,” Parr said.

“It was just his first trial back and it was just a wind opener to blow the cobwebs out.

“He did everything we asked and his work since has been very nice, I galloped him this morning at Randwick and I am just very happy with the horse.

“He has the attitude of a good horse and I think that he has the ability to go with it.”

Parr will find out tomorrow if it is possible for him to make the ride of Destiny’s Kiss in the Winter Cup after riding Cluster at Kembla Grange.

Author: Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.